Greetings from camp!
There is nothing like the first few days of camp. It seems that everything around here is in absolutely peak form; it is clear as I have been walking around the place over the course of the last couple of days. All of our project areas seem to be particularly full… up until yesterday when our wilderness tripping program jumped into action and we currently have over 50 kids out on trail! Things have really been humming down at the waterfront as we have had such a warm couple of days. At this point, virtually every single camper has at least attempted the swim test and all but those who came to us not knowing how to swim have passed… over 200 kids!
Our other programs have been packed with enthusiastic kids as well. Our sailors have been reveling in trying out our brand-new fleet of small sailboats. Climbers have lined up to find out what they are made of as they learn to scale our 50-foot climbing wall. Our culinarily-inclined kids have already had a chance to learn to make pesto pasta, chicken teriyaki, and ICE CREAM (believe it or not, the pesto pasta was every bit as popular as the ice cream… silly kids… they have so much to learn!). Our darkroom reopened yesterday for the first time since 2019, and there was tremendous interest. And on it went, all of our programs filled with enthusiastic kids who are absolutely dead set on making the most of their time here – and a dedicated staff, fresh off a really long staff week, armed with new counseling skills to try out and raw enthusiasm for working with children. There can be little doubt that this time of the year, when camp is so full of absolute freshness, and so full of energy, is when our projects really shine.
So, too, it is a joy to see what goes on in the cabins during these early days of a session. When a cabin group first gets together, whether it be for the very first time ever, or for the first time after a long school-year layoff, there is a genuine sense of euphoria in those groups. For the old-timers, the chance to get back together with their best friends in the world feels absolutely amazing. They start with lots of “remember when” discussions, which quickly transform into whatever in-the-moment goofiness or random thoughts collectively jump into their heads. It is really fun to observe these groups as they reconnect in the way that only kids can…
Our new groups, too, are wonderful to watch in these first few days as they discover each other for the first time. With all of them in the same boat, they are desperate to form new connections and friendships. And they are good at it. At this stage in a relationship, all of the little quirks are seen as charming. That boy with the really loud voice is thought of as a really funny guy who tells great stories. That kid who tends to dominate and boss the others around a lot is thought of as being really helpful at organizing things during cabin cleanup. And the guy who is so unorganized that his clothing can be found in everyone else’s cubbies… he’s thought of as great at sharing!
We married folk can easily hearken back to the “honeymoon period” of our marriages… to the days when that cap left off of the toothpaste was a quirky endearing quality, the seat left up in the bathroom was just “that cute little boy in him,” and the fact that she seemed to take forever to get ready to go anywhere was seen as her really caring about making everything “just right.” Now as some of you also know, this period does not last forever, except in the case of camp directing couples. (Steph edits these updates, so I have to be careful what I write!) But for now, all is bliss and groups could not be more copacetic and cohesive. It is fun to watch and sets a great foundation of friendship and appreciation for the challenges that may come in the future. (I may write an update on the disintegration of the honeymoon period in the coming weeks… look for it!).
On the homesick front, things continue to go well. We have been working with a couple of boys to get them comfortable here for the first time. (And to be clear, if your son is one of them, you have already heard from me). They are all making progress through the process. My favorite story from one of these guys was yesterday. There is a brand new 3rd grade boy whom I have been working with over the past couple of days. He is truly charming with an astoundingly analytical mind for a kid that age. He has proven to be really thoughtful and insightful in our discussions. And he is missing home…
Several of our talks have centered on the idea of how sometimes things are hard and that when we are able to work through the hard and succeed, we feel amazing. So… on Wednesday, this very slight-in-stature boy went down for his swim test. He threw himself into it completely, but ultimately, he just felt it was too cold and couldn’t complete the test. Uh oh, right? The last thing my homesick kid needs is a setback. But it didn’t faze this guy. Yesterday, he marched himself right back to the swim project and jumped back in the water. And this time, that little pistol of determination got it done. He passed!
Later yesterday, when he and I were sitting and talking through some things, I asked him if he thought anything from his swimming experience could help with what we were working on. He sat for a minute and said “Well, it seems a lot like what we have been saying…” (I think he knew I was working him on this one… but he indulged me!) “I can do hard things, and when I’m able to do them it feels really good. So, I guess that’s how it is going to be with my homesickness. This is hard, and I miss my family, but when I get to the end and get that hug from my parents, I’m going to be really proud.” And at that moment I sat slack jawed at the 9-year-old sitting across from me and simply thanked him for helping me write my Adam’s Update for the next day…
All is well in the North Woods….
